Automatic cut-off valve.



W. B. FORD.-

AUTOMATIO GUT-OFF VALVE.

APPLICATION TILED JAN. 29, 1913.

1,081,822. Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

WITNESSES INVENTOR WILLIAM is. Fania, on ntniiu'iw'en aza, ALABAMA.

amazes caress verve.

Specification o! Letters fateht.

Iatented Dec. 16-, 1913.

' issuance met many 25,1918.- senh at. 744,962.

To, aZl whom it may comma v Be it knew that I, WIL'IjIhM B. Folio, a citizen of the United States, and i'e'sideiltbf B'irmihham', in the county or J efl'e'rson and stereo Anthea, ha've invented certain new and useful Improvements in Au t'oi'natic Cut- Ofi' Valves, of which the follbwin'g is a specification. I

This inv'e'ntiori 'relafes to a valve which will close ai'ito-inatiealy upon the development of abnormal temperature 'aroundit, in order to close flow through a pipe in which the valve is introduced in case of fire or other emergency; and particularly to that class of such valves which are desi ned to operate by the application of nice 'aihicail force as well as thermica'lly.

The object of the invention is tb' provide a valve of this t e which will be of cheap and durable c'o'ns 'uct'ion and certain in operation; also to rovi'de a construction in which mechanica" force may be applied without destroying the thermi'ca'lly released element, and, incidentally, the means for mechanically rel'e'a'siii' the valveniay also be employed for introd'licing'th'ede'teiit into retaining position.

In carrying out the invention, the detent or some part thereof is constructed or a substance fusible at a temperature indicating the presence of dangerous combustion, and it is brou ht into engagement with a fixed part whic intercepts the path in which it.

must move in closing the valve,.as is usual in such devices, but said detent is associated with the valve by a connection which permits it to move transversely to the path of the valve closing movement, so that it may not only slip into engagement with the fixed member in the original setting of the parts, but it may be slipped out of such engagement with the fixed member by the application of mechanical force, so as to permit the valve to close independently of the fusing of the detent.

The invention will be fully understood upon reference to the accompanying drawing, in which one embodiment of the several features of the invention is shown by way of illustration. V

In said drawingFigure 1 is a perspective view of a valve with the parts in set position; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the valve with the parts in released position, and, Fig. 3 is a detail view of the detaining parts.

1 a valve 0f any suitable con-v s truc'tiotl', mounted within a c sing 2, which maybe provided with a phig ed hand-hole 3', in addition to suitable inlgt and outlet. Valve 1 is 'coiitrolled by a'il arm 4 mounted on the valve spindle 5, and adapted to be operated in the directionotclosing by a sp'rlhg 6. To retain the valve noi'inall iii (seen position by means which will auto'm'atically release the valve under high temperatl'l fusible detent 7 entering a recess 8 in a s'up- 9min post 9', positioned to receive the detent en the valve is open. To adapt the arm to be released at will, as by mam a1 or other power, and incidentally to faci i'tate se tt'ing't'he automatic valve in the first place,

the det'eiit is slidably mounted on the arm, as for instance, three the medium of the Bfioelt 10 which may e drawn away from e post 9, by any suitable means, such as flexible'col'l'n'ection 11. To render the op'er'ation more certain, the arm 4 is located to assume a giaVitati'ng position when set. Moreover, the block 10 'may take the form of a weight, and the flexible connection 11 may extend in a direction to assist the movement by the 'pull imparted to it. The spring 6 engages beneath the rear extension of the arm 4 so as to impart its force with some leverage. The tension of spring 6 may be increased, if desired, by imparting to the arm 4, a complete .revolution backward. The fusible piece 7 will preferably be a short section of wire adapted to be inserted into the sliding detent 10 and, therefore, readily replaced at any time.

I claim 1. In combination with a valve, closing means acting automatically to close the valve when released, a fixed support, and a fusible part carried by said closing means and movable thereon into and out of engagement with said fixed support for resisting the movement of said closing means, to close the valve, and to release said closing means, respectively.

2. In combination with a valve, automatic operating mechanism for said valve, a fixed support adjacent to said mechanism, and a therlnically releasable detcnt for normally engaging said support so as to resist automatic action of the operating mechanism and mounted on said closing mechanism with 1 movement thereon transverse to the path of. movement of said operating mechanism and the 'val've-arni 4 is provided with a a vment, to restrain or by said transverse movement adapted to en gage and disengage with the fixed support. 3. In combination with a valve, automatic operating mechanism for said valve comprising a swinging arm, a thermioally re leasable detent for said operating mechanism slidably mounted on said arm, a fixed support adjacent to said arm and into and out of engagement with which said detent: is adapted to be moved by its sliding moveermit movement of said operating mechanism, res actively.

4.1m combination with a va ve, automatic operating mechanism for said valve comprisin a swinging arm, a thermically releasable detent for said operating mechanism slidably mounted on said arm, a fixed support adjacent to said arm and into and out of engagement with which'said detent is adapted to be moved by its sliding movement, to restrain or permit movement of said operating mechanism, respectively; said arm being in gravitatin position when the valve is restrained and t edetent-is engaged with the fixed support.

5. In combination with a valve, automatic operating mechanism for said 'valve comprisin a swinging arm, a thermically releasab e detent for said operating mecha-- nism slidably mounted on said arm, a fixed support adjacent to said arm and into and out of engagement with which said detent is adapted to be moved by its sliding movement, to restrain or permit movement of said operating mechanism, respectively; said arm being in gravltating position when the valve is restrained fi'om movement and the detent is engaged with the fixed support;

said detent comprising a weight which'adds to the gravitating force of the'arm. 6. In combination with a valve, anffautomatic operating mechamma ncluding a conof the valve, a fusibl I noeneae trolling'member movable with the operatiom releasable detent member, a stop normally engaged by said etent in the direction in which said controlling member moves in the o eration of the valve, whereby the valve is held against operation, the connection betweensaid detent and said controlling member'being such that it permits the detent to move upon the controlling of the valve, a fusibl mounted on said control in member transversely to the movement of the controlling member, and a mechanical connection for imparting said movement of the detent relativel to the controlling memher, to release t e detent from the stop.

7 '7. In combination with a valve, an automatic operating mechanism including a controlling member movable with the operation releasable detent mounted on said contro ling member, a sto normally engaged by said detent in the direction in which said controlling member moves in the operation of' the valve, whereby the valve is held against operation, the connection between sald detent and said controlling member being such that it permits the detent to move upon the controlling member transversely to the movement of the controlling member, and a mechanical connection for imparting-said movement of the detent relatively to the controlling member, to. release the detent from the stop; said mechanical connection being alsoadapted to apply force to the controlling member in the direction of its valve operating movement.

The foregoing specification signed at Birmingham, Alabama, this 8th day of January, 1913, v

WILLIAM B..-;FORD. llln presence o1c'- (11E. LEONARD,

W. L, Stars, 

